In every corner of the world, corruption undermines progress and stifles growth. It shows up in the form of overcrowded schools with leaky roofs, roads that are impassable and health centers where essential medicines are never in stock. It thrives in the unchecked power of officials who prioritize personal gain over public good. Its impact reaches far beyond the people directly involved in corrupt acts; it affects communities, economies and even societies.
High-profile cases of bribery and corruption often make headlines, but many smaller-scale incidents go unnoticed. These incidents can occur at all levels of government and in private businesses, ranging from petty corruption to systematic endemic corruption.
The motivations for committing corruption vary, but can include financial gain, power and influence. Many people may not understand the limits of their power, thinking that what they are doing is “just how things get done.” For others, the temptation to exploit their position for their own financial benefit can be overwhelming.
Federal bribery and corruption charges carry severe penalties, including hefty fines and prison time. It is important to work with a qualified lawyer in these cases.
When defending Federal corruption charges, the first thing to determine is whether there is actual evidence of an illegal scheme. This can be proved through interviews with disinterested witnesses and by tracing illicit payments back to the suspected bribe recipient through a chain of documentation (e.g., a company’s records, FOI requests, and information from corporate directories). The most common form of corruption involves a single bribe. Grand corruption is much harder to prove, and it is usually necessary to put together a number of pieces of evidence like a jigsaw in order to demonstrate that there has been a pattern of corrupt activity.
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